Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova, ranked number two in the world, has been slammed and branded 'irresponsible' for releasing a line of high-sugar sweets.

The 25-year-old's Sugarpova range comes in 12 different flavours and has an average of 84g of sugar per bag - the equivalent of 21 teaspoons or two cans of Coca Cola.

Sharapova, who is currently in Australia for the Australian Open, has been criticised by child psychologists for the 'inappropriate' launch of a 'playful' and 'flirty' junk food line that is particularly targeted towards young girls and women.

Tennis player Maria Sharapova, currently ranked number two in the world, has been criticised as 'irresponsible' for launching a line of sugary sweets, Sugarpova

A website mission statement from the brand reads: 'Sugarpova is a premium candy line that reflects the fun, fashionable, sweet side of international tennis sensation Maria Sharapova.

'Maria has created her own candy business to offer an accessible bit of luxury, interpreting classic candies in her own signature style.

'A long time candy lover with a surprising sweet tooth, Maria is bringing a new level of quality to the candy category through fun, unexpected types and shapes - with playful names to match. Wrapped up in a beautiful package, it’s both style and substance, just like founder Maria Sharapova.'

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Sharapova says: 'I've always had a sweet tooth. And I am not exaggerating one bit. My earliest memory of candy is being a little girl back in Russia and asking my parents for a lollipop after a good practice on the tennis court. It was that little treat I looked forward to. And here I am many years later hoping to get a sweet treat after a good practice.'

One bag of Sugarpova Sassy Sour sweets - containing four servings of five pieces - contains 21 teaspoons of sugar, the same as two cans of Coca Cola

The sweets come in 142g bags, filled
with an average of four servings of five sweets - but it would take an
extraordinary amount of self-control for most people to stick to a
meagre five.

'Sports stars have a
disproportionately large influence on consumer behaviour, including that
of children. So to be promoting an unhealthy habit like this seems
entirely inappropriate'

Each 'serving' contains 120 calories and approximately 19g of sugar, the equivalent of five teaspoons or half a can of Coke.

Perhaps
more pertinently, each bag - which costs $5.99 (£3.70) and is currently only available in America - is packed with some 480 calories and 80g of
sugar - in some cases as many as 84g, the equivalent of 21 teaspoons or
two cans of full-fat Coca Cola.

Corrina Langelaan, campaigns manager
for The Parents' Jury, an Australian organisation which campaigns for
responsible advertising and promotion of food, told Australian news
website news.com.au: 'Maria Sharapova is a hugely influential athlete, admired by parents and children alike.

'She
has a role to play in promoting healthy lifestyles and, with childhood
obesity on the rise globally, spruiking a confectionary range smacks of
irresponsible marketing.'

Maria Sharapova has referenced her own tennis career with bubble gum shaped to resemble tennis balls

And child psychologist Dr Justin Coulson said Sharapova nudging girls and women towards an 'unhealthy habit' was 'simply irresponsible' because of the influence she had over children's behaviour.

Jeff Rubin, who created the brand
with Sharapova, said that athletes marketing 'healthy' and 'organic'
sweets was misleading, because the athletes themselves eat sugary
snacks

He said: 'Sports stars have a
disproportionately large influence on consumer behaviour, including that
of children. So to be promoting an unhealthy habit like this seems
entirely inappropriate. Surely she can come up with something that's
good for people?" he said.

But Jeff Rubin, who created the brand
with Sharapova, said that athletes marketing 'healthy' and 'organic'
sweets was misleading, because the athletes themselves eat sugary
snacks.

Speaking to The Candy Industry, he
said: 'For me, someone who's been going to over 20 years of candy shows,
we see different athletes at every show, selling an organic version of
something or a healthy version of something or a natural version of
something, when we all know that they all have sweet tooths and what
they really love is gummies and sour.

The sweets come in 142g bags, filled with an average of four servings of five sweets - but it would take an extraordinary amount of self-control for most people to stick to a meagre five

Do YOU have diabetes but not know about it? 850,000 British residents do

There are around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes in the UK, according to the NHS figures, and Diabetes UK says there will be 700,000 more by the end of the decade.

But 55 per cent of British people do not see diabetes as a health threat.

In response, Asda Pharmacy is offering a free test to all shoppers and its 180,000 employees nationwide.

Faisal Tuddy, deputy superintendent pharmacist at Asda said: 'It is worrying to discover people still aren’t clued up to the causes of diabetes, especially when statistics from Diabetes UK and the NHS prove we're a nation at risk.

'We offer free blood glucose screening and advice to our shoppers, which can help indicate the likelihood someone has, or is at risk of developing diabetes in the future. We’re testing over 1,000 shoppers a month and aim to educate people about diabetes and raise awareness nationwide.'

Maria Sharapova in action at Wimbledon, left, and a bag of her 'Smitten' sour sweets, right

Sugarpova 'Splashy'

Sugarpova nutrition facts

Sugarpova 'Spooky'

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Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova slammed for launching Sugarpova sweets with 84g of sugar per bag, two cans of Coca Cokla